Headlight with indicator



June 17, 1941 W 5 C P T 7 2;,24-5,?55

HEADLIGHT WITH INDICATUR Filed Deb. 9, 1957 v INVENTOR j A 14 .5 (a [/VTf/F.

BY mum/1;

ATTORNEY Patented June 17, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i i 2,245,155 1 i i HEADLIGHT wrrn mmcsroa Walter E. Carpenter, West Caldwell, N. 1., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturin: Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 9, 1937, Serial No. 178,944

(Cl. Mil -8.4)

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a visual indicator and, more particularly, to an arrangement whereby the driver of a' motor vehicle maybe able to tell when the headlights thereof are energized withoutJeaving his seat.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is the provision of headlights, particularly adapted for automobiles, which give indications from the rear as to whether or not their lamps are energized.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a headlight, particularly for use on an automobile, in which the lamp thereof, when energized, allows some light topassrearwardly to an aperture in the headlight housing, said aperture desirably being closed by a glass jewel which refracts the light received and gives a visual indication that the lamp is energized.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an automobile headlight in which the housing is provided with anaperture closed by a glass-Ewe which is positioned so as to be 11- luminated by light passing through a transparent exhaust tip of the'lamp in said headlight, when the lamp is energized, thereby making a light which is visible from the rear, and showing by the absence of such a light, when the headlight switch is on, that'the headlight lamp needs replacing or there is a detect in the circuit thereto. Other objects and advantages of the invention, relating to the-particular arrangement and construction of the various parts, will become ap- .parent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention: 4 Fig. 1 is a partial plan and partial horizontal I sectional view of an automobile headlight embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a. partial side elevational and partial vertical sectional view of the headlight shown in Fig. 1.

means of a bracket 3, only fragmentarily illustrated.

The housing 2 has a front opening I in which is received an incandescent electric lamp 5. The

lamp 5 of the present embodiment is of the typein which a reflector portion 6 is formed as .partof the bulb I, the forward edge portion of said reflector portion 6 b ing united-to a cover or lens portion I which completes the bulb I, the lamp 8 being somewhat similar to that described and claimed in the Holloway application, Serial No.

114,746, filed December 8, 1936, and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric 8: Manufacturing Com- In the present embodiment, thereflector portion 6 is constructed of glass, premed or otherwise formed into a parabolic or paraboloidal shape, as is customary in lamp reflectors. The reflector portion 8 has bosses I and it to which are secured, conductive'posts II and II, from which extend the lead-in conductors l3 and It for the light-giving'fllament ii. The filament I5 is focused with respect to the reflector portion 0, as described in the Holloway application previously referred to, forming in this instance,

however, what is designated as a bipost lamp. Electrical energy is conducted to the posts H and II from the vehicle, onwhich the headlight is mounted, by clips or other connecting means,

not shown. I

In order-to provide for the eflicient reflection of light from the parabolic portion 0 of the lamp i,'the interior surface of said portion fl is desir- Fig. 3 is a partial elevation-a1 view andpartial sectional view of a lamp embedded in an automobile fender, and involving a modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to Fig. 3, but

' showing another embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts i being designated by like reference characters,

and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a headlight l comprising a lamp supporting housing or casing 2 which normally is sup ported from or mounted on an automobile, or motor vehicle, or fender thereof, not shown. by

ably coated with an opaque film of metal I, such as aluminum, which eflic'iently reflects light, at

the same time preventing it passing rearwardlythrough the glass portion 6. During the deposition of the metal ii on the reflector portion 0, the exhaust tube portion; I1 is either kept free of such metal, or metal deposited thereon is subsequently removed therefrom, so that .a portion of the light from the filament II, when the same is energized, is transmitted rearwardly to' the inner .surface of the'housing 2 of the headlight l.

either burntout or, that there is a defect in thecircuit thereto, so that he can promptly remedy the matter.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 3, a construction is there disclosed in which a lamp 8*, preferably constructed like the lamp I of the flrst embodiment, is imbedded in the fender 2| of an automobile, not shown, which tunctions like the housing 2 of the flrst embodiment, to make a headlight for said automobile.

In a construction of this character the glass jewel it, in order to be visible by the motorist when at the wheel, has to be located approxi# mately as illustrated; that is. near the top of the fender and closing an aperture ll therein. In this way it is considerably removed from the lamp and direct light from the exhaust tip l1- would not ordinarily illuminate the jewel sufficiently for the desired purpose. In accordance with the present embodiment of my invention, I therefore connect said exhaust tip to the Jewel, for the conduction of light 'therebetween, by

means of a piece of glass cane, tubing, or other transparent solid material, such as Lucite, designated by the reference character II.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 4, a construction is there disclosed which, like that of Fig. 3, involves the imbedding of a lamp 5", preferably constructed like the lamp 5 of the first embodiment, in an automobile fender 20" which acts as a lamp housing to produce a headlight, as in the preceding embodiment. In the present case, however, while the jewel It, as in the preceding embodiment, is connected to the upper portion of the fender,

closing an aperture it therein, I provide for the transmission of light thereto from the exhaust ti-p ll by reflection from a preferably adjustable mirror 22, located, as illustrated, so as to desirably concentrate the light from the exhaust tip on the jewel it thereby illuminating it when the lamp 5 is energized.

From the foregoing, it will be seenthat I have provided an improved headlight which gives a visual indication, from the rear. of the condition of the enclosed lamp, thereby allowing the driver to promptly attend to any necessary replacement on account of the lamp burning out.

Although preferred embodiments of my invention have been disclosed, it will be understood that modifications maybe made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1,. An automobile headlight comprising a housing and a lamp formed with a reflector portion and a lens portion, said reflector portion being constructed of transparent material coated on the inside with opaque light-reflective material, and having an exhaust tipfree of said reflective material, said lamp being mounted in said housing, an aperture formed in said housing rearwardly of said lamp, and a glassjewel closing said aperture whereby it receives light through said exhaust tip when the lamp is lit and is visible to the driver of the vehicle on which the headlight is mounted, as an indication from the rear of whether or not the lamp. is energized.

2. In combination with a headlight housing, an incandescent electric lamp comprising a bulb formed of a reflector portion, the interior of which is coated with metal, providing an efllcient lightreflecting surface, a window portion sealed thereto, and a filament centered with respect to said reflecting surface and sealed in said bulb, said reflector portion having a transparent exhaust tip, and said housing having an aperture disposed rearwardly of said lamp and closed by a glass jewel, so that it receives light from said filament through said exhaust tip when the lamp is energized, and gives a visual indication to the -driver of a car on which said headlight is mounted.

3. An automobile headlight comprising a housing, means for mounting said housing on said automobile, a lamp secured in said housing and formed with a reflector portion, said reflector portion being provided with atransparent exhaust tip, said housing having an aperture positioned rearwardly of said lamp so that it receives light through said exhaust tip, when the-lamp is lit, and means adjacent said aperture for making said light visible from the rear as an indication of lamp condition.

4. In combination with the fender of an automobile, a headlight lamp imbeddedtherein and formed with a reflector portion, said reflector portion having a small transparent area, said iender having an aperture so positioned that it receives light through said area, when'thelamp is lit, and means adjacent said aperture formaking said light visible from the driver's seat, as an indication of lamp condition.

5. In combination with the fender of an automobile. 0'. headlight lamp imbedded therein and formed with a reflector portion, said reflector portion having a small transparent area and said fender having an aperture closed by a glass jewel, and a piece of. transparent solid material extending between said transparent area and Jewel so that it receives light when the lamp is lit, and makes it visible from the driver's seat, as an indication of lamp condition.

6. In combination with the tender of an automobile, a headlight lamp imbedded therein and formed with a' reflector portion, said reflector portion having a small transparent area and said and a mirror positioned to reflect light, emitted by said transparent area, on said jewel. so that it receives light, when the lamp islit, to make it visible from the driver's seat, as an indication of lamp condition.

7. A headlight comprising a housing,means for mounting said housing on an automobile, a lamp secured in said housing and formed with a reflector portion as part of its bulb, said reflector portion having a transparent exhaust tip area,

said housing having an aperture positioned rearwardly of said lamp so that it receives light thru said area when the lamp is energized, and means adjacent said aperture for making said light visible from the rear to indicate lamp condition.

8. In combination with an automobile. a lamp support carried thereby, a head light lamp mounted in said support and having a portion oi its bulb coated to forma reflector portion, said reflector portion having a transparent exhaust tip area and said support having an aperture disposed rearwardly of said lamp and closed by a glass jewel in the line of vision from the driver's seat, and a piece of transparent solid material extending substantially the entire distance between said transparent area and jewel so that the latter receives light when the lamp is lit, making it visible to a driver as an indication of lamp condition.

9. In combination with an automobile, a lamp support carried thereby, a headlight lamp lamp is lit, and visible to a driver as an indica- 10 tion of lamp condition.

10. In combination with the fender of an automobile, a headlight lamp imbedded' therein and formed with a reflector portion, a portion of said lamp having a small transparent area, said fender 15 having an aperture so positioned that it receives light through saidarea, when the lamp is lit, and means adjacent said aperture for making said light visible from the drivers seat, as an indication of lamp condition. 20

11. In combination with the tender of an automobile, a headlight lamp imbedded therein and formed with a reflector portion, a portion of said lamp having a small transparent area and said fender having an aperture closed by a glass jewel, and a piece of transparent solid material extending between said transparent area and jewel so that it receives light when the lamp is lit, and makes it visible from the drivers seat, as an indication of lamp condition.

12. In combination with the fender of an automobile,- a headlight lamp imbedded therein and formed with a reflector portion, a portion of said lamp having a small transparent area and said fender having an apertureclosed by a glass jewel, and a mirror positioned toreflect light, emitted by said transparent area, on said jewel, so that it receives light, when the lamp is lit, to make it visible from the drivers seat, as an indication of lamp condition.\

WALTER E. CARPENTER. 

